Apparatus for capsulating liquids



March 22, 1955 w. MCCLURE 2,704,427

APPARATUS FOR CAPSULATING LIQUIDS Filed June 2, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l C"l', o 1.5"

VAA(

/7 TF/VEVS.

March 22, 1955 w. MCCLURE 2,704,427

APPARATUS FOR CAPSULATING LIQUIDS Filed June 2, 1952 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2'f' vI INVENTOR. 4227er /V'Za/*z Frans/EVS,

MarCh 22, 1955 W MGCLURE APPARATUS FOR CAPSULATING LIQUIDS 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1952 IN V EN TOR. M/ler MS 'Zzz/"e,

W/ w w V x 4 K United seeslefefnfii@ APPARATUS FOR CAPSULATING LIQUIDSWalter McClure, Alma, Mich., assigner to Liqnfoil Corporation, Alma,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Applicatie June 2, 1952, senat No.291,361

9 Claims. (ci. 53-86) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in apparatus for capsulating materials and particularlymaterials of liquid or pasty consistency.

It is often desirable to package small amounts or single applications ofmaterials. For example, it has been found convenient to prepare handlotiony in small, individual packets for both advertising lsamples andretail sale. In use, the material is squeezed from the packet and thewrapper is then discarded. Also, it has been found convenient tosimilarly package comestibles such as mustard and the like forindividual use in applications such as picnic kits, air-line lunches,and take-away .hamburger or hotdog concessions. Other uses of the aboveconcept will readily suggest themselves.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusfor making small, individual capsules or packets of materials such asthe ones named specilically above.

Another object of the invention is to provide ani apparatus of theabove-mentioned character that isV essentially rapid in operation andthat produces the packets economically at a high rate of speed.

Still another objectvof the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove-mentioned. character that produces a liuidtight and airtightpacket which keeps the contents thereof essentially fresh for arelatively long time.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove-mentioned character that is substantially automatic in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the. invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the drawings forming a .part of this specification and wherein likenumerals. are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a capsulating apparatus embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the portion of Fig. ldesignated by the arrow 4;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view between the forming dies of the apparatusas indicated by the line 5 -5 Ain Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a single capsule or packet of thetype produced by the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical lsectional view taken onthe line 7-7 of'Fig. l, particularlyfillusf trating one of severalidentical valves'which control operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9of Fig. 5;

Fig. l0 is a `perspective view showing one ofthe die members used toform and seal the packet;

Fig. l1 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but. showlng the parts in elevationand illustrating the relationship thereof with adjacent parts oftheapparatus; and

Fig. l2 is a diagrammatic view lllustratmg the pneu@` matic circuitwhich operates the various working parts of the apparatus.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 21B designates anupright support disposed at 2,704,427 Patented Mar. 2 2,

ICC

the front of the machine 22. Mounted on one side of vthe supportadjacent the upper end thereof are inner and outer die members 24 and 26carried by back-up plates 28 and 30 respectively. The back-up plates 28and 30 are larger than dies 24 and 26, and the inner back-up plate 28 isfastened solidly to the support Bolts 32 and 34 extend rearwardlythrough the back-up plates 23 and 39 at opposite sides of the diemembers 24 and 26. As perhaps best shown in Pig. 1, the bolts 32 and 34extend rearwardly of the support 2@ and the rearward ends thereof areconnected by a crosshead 36 disposed transversely of and actuated by afluid motor 38 mounted on the support 2b directly behind the die members24 and 26. Springs 40 carried by the bolts 32 and 34 and conned betweenback-up plates 28 and 30 normally urge the latter apart so as toseparate the die members.

The dies 24 and 26 are arranged opposite each other.

and have flat confronting surfaces each formed with medianly disposedupper and lower cavities 42 and 44.

, The two cavities i2 and 44 are vertically aligned and are separated byan intervening bridging portion 46. The upper cavity 42 extends throughthe upper end of the die, and the lower cavity 44 extends through thelower end thereof. Also it will be observed that the upper v'cavity 42is relatively longer than the lower cavity 44 and in any event issufficiently long to accommodate the entire capsule of material to beformed by the appa ratus. The entire confronting surface of each diecontiguous to the cavities 42 and 4d is corrugated as at 48, and thecorrugations of the two die members inter twhen the dies are broughttogether.

Mcuntedon the support 2t) above the die members 24 and 26 is an ejectionnozzle device comprising an ejection tube 5h carried by and extendingdownwardly from a suitable crosshead slide 52 which extends between andis slidably supported by guides 54 and 56 atopposite ends thereof. Theupper ends of guides 54 and 56 are connected by a transverse member 58,and the entire ejection tube and slide assembly is attached to the .sup-

port 20 by a pair of arms 6i) and 62. As best shown in Figs. l and 4,the arms 6? and and 62 embracethe support 20 and are securely fastenedthereto by bolts 64. The arms extend forwardly of support 2t) andbetween guides 54 and 56 and the terminal portions thereof are suitablyfastened to the guides by bolts 66. A fluid motor 68 surmounting andsuitably fastened to the transverse member 58 has a downwardly extendingpiston rod 70 which extends through member 53 and is fastened securelytothe crosshead guide 52, Manifestly, operation of the fluid motor 6dcauses the guide 52 and conv' sequently the ejector tube Si) toreciprocate vertically.

The arms 60 and 62 also extend rearwardly of the support 20 and formpart of a supporting structure 72, which carries spaced rolls 74 and '76of paper, foil, or the like from which the packets are made. Stripmaterial from the lower roll 7d extends forwardly overV a suitable guideroll 78 journaled to and extending between suitable standards 8G and 82fastened to and at opposite sides of the support 2d. Strip material fromthe upper roll 76 similarly extends forwardly overV a guide roll 84journaled to and disposedbetween upright stand.-

ards 86 and SS fastened. to and extending upwardly. from the arms 60 and62. The two pieces of strip material extend downwardly from therespective guide rolls78 and 84, on opposite sides of the ejectortube50, and

j between the die members 24 and 26.

Mounted on the support 2G below die members 24 and 26 is a suitableintermittent pulling mechanism comprising inner and outer jaws 9i? and92. The inner jaw Y 94) is mounted for vertical sliding movement betweenways 94 and 96 defined by plates 98 and 100 respectively fastened toopposite sides of the support 2i). The outer jaw 92 is disposed within agenerally U-shaped forwardly extending frame 1%2 carried by and movablewith the rearward jaw 9d. A pair of laterally spaced fluid motors 194and M6 carried by the frame 162 and fastened to the jaw are operative tomove the latter to and from the stationary jaw 99. Springs 103 and alsointerposed between and fastened to the jaw 92 and frame 102 hold thejaws 9i) and 92 normally separated. The strip material from rolls 74 and76 extends downwardly from die members 24 and 26 between the jaws 90 and92. a i

Vertical reciprocation of the pulling mechanism is achieved by a crankarm 112 fastened at one end to the stationary jaw 90 at the rearwardside thereof and at the other end to an eccentric 114 fixed on androtatably driven by the drive shaft 116 of a motor 118. As shown in Fig.1, the drive shaft 116 is relatively long and extends entirely throughan elongated housing 120 interposed between the support 20 and the motor118. It will bc readily apparent that the motor 118 acts through thedrive shaft 116 to rotate the eccentric 114 and that the latter in turnacts through the crank arm 112 t0 move the clamping assembly verticallybetween the ways 94 and 96.

Material to be packaged by the apparatus is kept in a suitable container122 (Fig. ll), and this material is delivered to the ejector tube 50 insuccessive, measured, uniform amounts. To this end, the material isforced constantly into a riser tube 124 in any suitable manner as bymeans of a pump 126 submerged in the material and connected to thebottom of the tube. From the tube 124 the material iiows through aconduit 128 to an ejector loader valve 130 and thence into an ejectorloader cylinder 132.

The valve 130 has a generally cylindrical casing 134 provided with aconical recess 136 at one end and a central passage 138 extending fromthe bottom of the recess to the opposite end 140 thereof. Mounted forrotation in the conical recess 136 is a correspondingly shaped valvebody 142, and the latter has an inward extension 144 which projects intoand is snugly received by the passage 133. A headed screw 146 extendsaxially through the valve body 142, and the projecting end of the screwcarries a nut 148 which bears against a washer 150 disposed across theend of passage 138 (Fig. 2). The outer end of valve body 142 iscentrally recessed as at 152, and a spring 154 confined between thebottom of the recess and the head of screw 146 holds the valve body 142pressed against the wall of recess 136. Two separate longitudinalpassages 156 and 15S in the valve body open through the inner taperedsurface thereof and are separately registrable with a longitudinalpassage 160 in the valve casing 134. Conduit 128 is connected to thevalve body 142 in communication with passage 156 by a suitable coupling162, and the valve casing is connected to the ejector cylinder 132 by asuitable union 164. As shown in Fig. 2 the union 164 is threaded intopassage 160 and effects communication between the passage and theinterior of the ejector cylinder 132. Passage 158, on the other hand, isconnected at the outer end thereof by a suitable coupling 166 to aconduit 168 which extends to and is connected with the ejector tube 50by a coupling 170.

The ejector cylinder 132 comprises a cylindrical body 172 having aninternal cylindrical chamber 174 which communicates with passage 160through the union 164 in the manner hereinabove described and whichslidably receives a piston 176. As perhaps best shown in Fig. 2. thecylinder body 172 is fixedly mounted in the vertical wall 178 of housing120. and the piston 176 is formed with an extension 180 which carries afollower 182 (Fig. 11). An eccentric cam 184 on drive shaft 116 isarranged for peripheral engagement with the follower 182. and this camdrives the piston 176 into the cylinder 174 once for each revolution ofthe drive shaft.

As suggested, the valve body 142 can be rotatably positioned to bringeither of passages 156 and 158 into register with the passage 160. Whenthe valve body 142 is positioned with passage 156 in register withpassage 160, the container 122 is in direct communication with thecylinder 174, and pressure exerted by pump 126 forces material from thecontainer 122 into the cylinder 174 each time the lobe of cam 184rotates away from the follower 132. Thus, under these conditions theportion of cylinder 174 not occupied by piston 176 is filled with thematerial from container 122. If, at this time, valve body 142 is rotatedto bring passage 158 into register with passage 160, communicationbetween container 122 and cylinder 174 is cut off and the cylinder isbrought into direct communication with the conduit 168 which connectswith the ejector tube 50. When the lobe of cam 184 is rotated againstfollower 182 under these conditions, the piston 176 is driven intocylinder 174 to force a limited predetermined amount of the materialbeing packaged into and from the ejector tube 50.

Manifestly, if the above operations are properly timed, a predetermineduniform quantity of material is discharged from the tube 50 each timethe apparatus operates in the manner described above. It will beapparent that the amount of material discharged from the tube 50 isdetermined by the size of cylinder 174 and that the charge can beselectively varied within limits by regulating the stroke of piston 176.

lt will be apparent also that the valve body 142 must press against thecase 134 with suiicient force t0 withstand pressure created at theinterface of these two bodies by the pump 126 and by ejector cylinder132. This function is performed by the spring 154 and it will be readilyapparent that the pressure exerted by this spring can be selectivelycontrolled by tightening or loosening the'nut 148. ln practice it isdesirable to tension spring 154 suiciently to prevent the material beingforced out of the ejector loader valve 130 between the case 134 and thevalve body 142, but the force exerted by spring 154 should not besubstantially greater than the force required to achieve this end inorder to facilitate rotation of the valve body 142 and to minimize wearand consequential galling of the relatively movable parts.

According to the present invention, the valve body 142 is rotatablyactuated by a tiuid motor 186 having a cylinder 188 carried by androckable about a horizontal pivot 190 fixed to a vertical support 192fastened to the frame of the machine at any suitable or convenientlocation (Fig. 8). A piston (not shown) is mounted for reciprocation inthe cylinder 188, and the piston is provided with the usual piston rod192 which extends from the cylinder and is pivotally attached as at 194to an arm 196 fastened to and extending radially from the valve body142.

In Fig. 8, the fluid motor 186 is shown with the piston retracted in thecylinder 190 to position the ejector valve 130 as shown by full lineswith the passage 156 in register with passage 160. When iiuid underpressure is admitted into cylinder 188 behind the piston to advance thelatter in the cylinder, arm 196 is moved -to the brokernline position inFig. 8, and the valve body 142 is rotated to bring passage 158 intoregister with passage 160. Manifestly, the valve body 142 can be easilymoved back and forth between these two positions, as indicated by thearrow in Fig. 8, merely by directing fluid under pressure to thecylinder 188 at one side or the other of the piston therein.

All the iuid motors 38, 68, 104, 106, and 186 arc actuated in propertimed relation by eccentric cams 19S, 200, and 202 fixed to androtatable with the drive shaft 116 and by valves 204, 206, and 208coactive with and actuated by respective cams. The valves 204, 206, and208 are here shown mounted in a block 210 on and integral with thehousing 120 directly above the cams 198, 200, 'and .202. The threevalves 204, 206, and 208 are identical in construction and operation,and a detailed description of only one therefore is given.

Each v alve comprises a plunger 212 mounted for reciprocation in asleeve 214 which is press-fitted or otherwise fixedly secured in a bore216 extending upwardly from the bottom of block 210 (Fig. 7). Verticallyspaced inlet passages 218 and 220 are provided in the block 210, andthese passages align with correspondingly positioned outlet passages 222and 224 in the opposite side of the block. The two inlet passages 218and 220 register with correspondingly spaced inlet ports 226 and 228provided in the sleeve 214, and the two outlet passages 222 and 224register with correspondingly spaced outlet ports 230 and 232 in thesleeve. The plunger 212 is formed with a diametrical through passage 234which is movable by reciprocation of the plunger selectively intoregister with either of the ports 226, 230, or 228, 232. An L-shapedpassage 236 provided in the plunger 212 above passage 234 registers atone end with outlet port 230 when the passage 234 is in register withthe ports 228 and 232.

airain through the bottom of the plunger. Inpthvis connection it will beobserved that the plunger 21,4.extends downwardly from the block 210,and a cam follower 240 rotatably mounted on the lower end of the plungeryengages the operating cam of the valve. Fig. 7 shows a verticalsectional view through the middle valve 206, and the cam follower 240 ofthis valve rests upon cani 200 (Fig. 1). Each valve also includes a cap242 which is threaded into an opening 244 provided in the block 210centrally of and above the valve plunger 212. As shown in Fig. 7, theopening 244 communicates with the open end of plunger 212 and thesurrounding sleeve 214, and a spring 246 confined between the upper endof the plunger and the upper end of the cap normally urges the plungerdownwardly to assure constant engagement of the cam follower 240 withthe eccentric cam which operates the valve.

The apparatus here shown is operated by air under pressure but it willbe readily appreciated that it could just as well be operatedhydraulically. As shown in Fig. l2, air under pressure is carried to themachine by an air line 248. Air is carried to valve 204 through a branchline 250, and the end of the latter has bifurcations 252 and 254 whichconnect with the two inlet passages 218 and 220 respectively. Similarly,air under pressure is carried to valve 206 by a branch line 256, and theend of this line is provided with bifurcations 258 and'260 which connectwith respective inlet passages 218 and 220 of the valve. ln the sainemanner, air is carried to valve 208 by a branch line 262 having terminal.bifurcations 264 and 266 which connect with respective inlet passages218 and 220 of the valve.

The upper discharge passage 222 of valve 204 is connected to uid motor186 ahead of the piston therein by a conduit 268, and the lowerdischarge passage 224 of the valve is connected to the same motor behindthe piston by a conduit 270. Fig. 12 shows cam 198 positioned to liftvalve 204 so as to connect the conduits 250 and 268 to retract thepiston in cylinder 186 and to position the ejector valve 130 as shown inFigs. 2 and 8. At this time the cylinder of fluid motor 186 behind thepiston is vented to atmosphere through conduit 270 and the L-shapedpassage 238.

The upper discharge port 230 of valve 206 is connected by a conduit 272to the cylinder of fluid motor 68 ahead of the piston therein, and thelower discharge passage 224 is connected by conduit 274 to the cylinderof motor 68 behind the piston. ln Fig. 12, the valve 206 is shown raisedto connect conduits 256 and 272 so `as to retract the piston in cylinder68 and to hold the ejector nozzle 50 raised.

The lower discharge port 224 of valve 208-is connected by conduits 276and 278 to uid motor 38 behind the piston therein to close the dies 24and 26 and by conduits 280 and 282 to uid motors 104 and 106 ahead ofthe pistons therein to open the clamping jaws 90 and `92. The upperdischarge port 222 of valve 208 is connected by conduits 284 and 286 tofluid motor 38 behind the piston therein to open the dies 24 and 26 andby conduits 284, 288, and 290 to the cylinders of tluid motors 104 and106 behind the pistons therein to close the jaws 90 and 92.

The operation of the device is now described, and for this purpose itwill be assumed that the ejector loader 130 is positioned as shown inFig. 2, permitting material being packaged to be charged to the ejectorcylinder 132, and it will be further assumed that the lobe of cam 184 isrotating away from the follower 182 so that the material forced underpressure into the ejector cylinder 132 moves the piston 176 to the leftso as to introduce a full charge into the ejector cylinder. Also, itwill be assumed that the ejector tube 50 is raised, that the dies 24 and26 are open, and that the Vclamping jaws 90 and 92 are closed. in thisposition of the clamping jaws, the eccentric pivot of cam 114 is at theupper limit of its travel preparatory to lowering the puller unit ofwhich the jaws 90 and 92 are a part. Also, it will be assumed `that thestrips 74 and 76 extend downwardly from guide rolls 78 and 84respectively on opposite sides of the ejector tube 50, between the dies24 and 26, and thence downwardly between the clamping jaws 90 and 92. Inthe position described above, the strips are gripped tightly betweenclamping jaws 90 and 92, and since the puller assembly is being moveddownwardly by the eccentric cam 114 the strips are being pulleddownwardlyvpast theejector tube 50 and between the open 'dies 24 and 26.l

Shortly before the ejector .loader cylinder 132i'scomzpletely iilled,cam 200 moves away from the follower 240 of valve 206 suiiiciently sothat the valve spring 246 moves the valve to the position shown in Fig.7 yand permits air under pressure to enter fluid motor 68 behind the,piston therein. Immediately when this occurs, the ejector tube 50 movesdownwardly.

Almost immediately after the ejector tube 50 begins to descend, cam 202releases valve 208 suiciently so that the latter assumes the positionshown in Fig. 7. Immediately when this occurs, air under pressure isadmitted vinto fluid motor 38 behind the piston therein to close dies 24and 26 and simultaneously into motors 104 and 106 ahead of the pistonstherein to openclamping jaws and 92.l

As soon as clamping jaws 90 and 92 open they release the paper strips 74and 76 which then remain stationary in the machine. As suggested, theejector tube 50 extends into the upper cavities 42 of the dies 24 and 26when in fully lowered position. Preferably the tube extends almost butnot quite to the bottom of the cavities. The timing is such that thedies 24 and 26 close after the ejector tube 50 is fully lowered. As thedies `come together, they form the strips 74 and 76 around the portionof tube 50 within cavities 42 yand simultaneously clamp the portions ofthe strips adjacent to the cavity. In this connection it will beobserved that the interttting corrugations 48 of the dies crimp theentire area of the strips disposed between the corrugated portions ofthe dies. ireferably, the dies are slightly wider than the strips sothat the entire area thereof not disposed within cavities 42 is crimped.If the strips 74 and 76 are of a material such as metallic foil or thelike the crimping action and pressure imposed by the die members 24 and26 alone seals the strips together suciently to form a iluicltightpocket around the tube 50. On the other hand, it the strips 74 and 76are made of some other .material such as paper or plastic film, it maybe necessary to precoat the confronting faces of the strips with asuitable adhesive, and indeed it may be desirable under certaincircumstances to coat strips of metallic foil with adhesive. ln thislatter event, it is desirable 'to heat the dies 24 and 26 electricallyor by circulating a heated liquid therethrough in any suitable orconventional manner so that the dies soften the vadhesive when they arebroughtinto clamping engagement with the strips 74 and 76 land thuseffect an eiiicient vlluidtight adhesive bond between the strips. Any ofa number of well-known vinyl .resins can be used which have thenecessary adhesive characteristics and which are suiciently inert to thematerial being packaged. Closing the dies 24 and 26 only after theejector tube 50 is fully lowered prevents the tube from tearing thestrips 74 and 76 when the pocket is formed therein.

Immediately after the pocket is formed, cam 198 moves away from valve204 permitting thelatter to move to the position shown in Fig. 7 so thatair under pressure is admitted to fluid motor 186 behind the pistontherein. rlfhis action in oves the ejector loader valve to thebrokenline position 1n Fig. 8 and interconnects the ejector cylinr 132wifth th?1 ejector tube 50.

iort y a ter t e occurrence of this contin enc 200 lifts valve 206 sothat air under pressure is adlmidl to fluid motor 68 ahead of thepiston. This action causes the ejector tube to rise out of the pocketpreviously formed in strips 74 and 76 and to a position above theforming dies 24 and 26.

Substantially simultaneously with the. operation of valve 206, cani 184pushes against follower 182 to ad vance piston 176 in the ejectorcylinder-132, and as the piston advances it forces material previouslycharged to the cylinder through the ejector loader valve and conduit 168to the ejector tube 50. Thus, the material is ejected from tube S0 asthe latter is raised from the pocket. The charge ejected by tube 50preferably substantailly completely fills the pocket within the diecavities During the above phase of the operation the eccentric cam 114rotates to raise the puller assembly. It will be recalled, however, thatthe clamping jaws 90 and 92 are open at this time so that the unit lisraised without effect on strips 74 and 76.

As the ejector tube 50 approaches the upper limit of its travel, cam 202again operates valve 208 to operate the fluid motor 38 so as to opendies 24 and 26 .and

simultaneously to operate tluid motors 104 and 106 so as to close theclamping jaws 90 and 92. As these two operations occur simultaneously,the dies 24 and 26 are open by the time the clamping jaws 90 and 92 arefully closed, and the arrangement is such that the clamping jaws closewhen the puller unit has been raised to the upper limit of its travel.

Also, after the material has been charged to ejector tube 50, cam 193again lifts valve 204 so that the latter connects the air pressure withfluid motor 136 ahead of the piston therein. This action returns theejector loader valve to the position shown in Fig. 2 and connects theejector loader cylinder 132 with the container 122 preparatory toretraction of the piston 176. At about the time the dies 24 and 26 openand clamping jaws 90 and 92 close, cam 184 releases piston 176 so thatanother charge of material is introduced into the cylinder 174. The cam114 then begins to move the puller unit downwardly; and since clampingjaws and 92 arc together at this time, they pull strips 7G and 76downwardly between the open dies 24 and 26.

This completes the cycle of operation.

In connection with the foregoing it should perhaps be pointed out thatthe puller unit 160 moves the strips 74 and 76 downwardly step by stepeach time a distance suftcient to bring the upper portion of thepreviously filled pocket into alignment with the lower cavities 44 ofdie members 24 and 26. Thus, when the die members 24 and 26 cometogether during any cycle of operation except the first in any series ofoperations, they close and seal the pocket which was formed and filledby the prior operation and before charge of material is ejected from thetube 50. Fig. illustrates the manner in which a pocket is formed in thestrips 74 and 76 around the ejector tube 50 and how the previouslyformed pocket is closed simultaneously by the dies 24 and 26.

As a result of successive operations as described above a series ofdiscrete small blisters or packets are formed between the strips 74 and76. Fig. 6 illustrates one of the blisters or packets so formed. Eachpacket comprises a separate container of the material being packaged.Any suitable number of these packets may be folded together or, ifdesired, they may be separated either automatically by a conventionalcutting mechanism (not shown) incorporated as a part of the machine orsubsequently either manually or automatically in any suitable orconventional manner.

It is, of course, desirable that the machine operate as rapidly aspossible and speeds in the order` of one hundred cycles per minute havebeen achieved. ln order to operate at such high speeds, it is necessaryto accelerate the speed of ejector nozzle 5t) as it approaches the upperlimit of its travel in order to break or snap off the jet of materialbeing discharged therefrom. This is particularly true in the case of arelatively viscid or pasty substance. lf the material is not snapped offabruptly in this manner the strips 74 and 76 moving downwardly onopposite sides of the nozzle 50 tend to pull material therefrom,resulting in faulty charging and creating a generally messy conditionwhich may affect the sealing of the packets by the dies 24 and 26.According to the present invention breaking oil of the fluid stream fromthe nozzle 50 is accomplished by the particular valve construction whichcontrols the ejector nozzle actuator 68. By providing a cam-operatedvalve of the type here disclosed, air is admitted to the uid motor 68gradually as the passage 234 moves into register with ports 226 and 230.Manifestly. a relatively small amount of air will be admitted to theejector nozzle immediately when passage 234 begins to register with thealigned ports; and, as the passage moves more and more into register,increasing amounts of air are admitted to the fluid motor 68. Thus,initial upward movement of the ejector nozzle 50 is relatively slow andthe rate of travel is progressively increased as it moves upwardly.Maximum acceleration is achieved as the nozzle approaches the uppermovement of its travel and this change in acceleration produces thedesired result described above.

Also, the use of a valve 206 to control the reciprocatory movements ofthe ejector nozzle 5l) contributes important advantages to the operationas it provides necessary dwell periods at opposite ends of thereciprocatory travel. A dwell period when the ejector nozzle 5G is atthe lower limit of its travel assures that the tube 50 is all the waydown before the dies 24 and 26 are completely closed, and, as describedabove, this prevents the ejector tube from breaking through the stripmaterial 74 and 76. The dwell period at the upper limit of travel allowsthe liquid material in the nozzle to stabilize itself and assures auniform feed. It will be readily appreciated in this connection that anabsolute uniform feed is essential to mal-:e the machine commerciallypracticable.

Also, in order to achieve maximum ctliciency in operation it isnecessary that the dies 24 and 26 be closed essentially rapidly and openrelatively slowly. ln addition, it is necessary that the gripping jaws9i) and 92 close essentially slowly and open relatively rapidly. Thisoperation is achieved in a particularly eiicient manner by the valve 208which controls the uid motors 38, 104, and 106, Rapid closing of thedies 24 and 26 and rapid opening of clamping jaws aud 92- are achievedbecause the pressure of air in passage 234 when it is in register withports 226 and 230 tends to hold the plunger 212 raised. Thus as the cam260 begins to rotate downwardly, it moves away from the follower 240,and there is only the pressure of spring 246 to shift the plunger to thelower position. This spring 246 is sufficiently strong, however, togradually overcome the resistance offered oy the air. Initial downwardmovement of the plunger is slow, but as passage 234 moves gradually outof register with ports 226 and 23) the resistance uttered by the airpressure decreases and the rate of travel of the plunger increases. Bythe time passage 234 moves out of register with ports 226 and 230resistance of the air column is reduced to zero and the spring 246 isable to complete the downward travel with a rush. Thus passage 234 movesinto register with ports 228 and 232 substantially instantaneously andair is admitted equally quickly and in large volume into fluid motors3S, 164, and 166 to close dies 24 and 26 and open jaws 90 and 92rapidly. On the other hand, relatively slow opening of the dies andrelatively slow closing of the clamping jaws 9) and 92 is achieved bythe same valve construction. Upward movement of the plunger 212 isresisted at all times by the spring 246 but the resistance of the springis overcome by the cam 202. However, the rate of travel of the plunger212 is controlled entirely by the peripheral contour of the cam 202, andthe plunger cannot rise any faster than the cam pushes it. Thus, passage234 moves progressively and relatively gradually into register withports 226 and 230. As a consequence, air is at first admitted graduallyand in small amounts to uid motors 38, 194, and 196. However, the volumeof air gradually increases as passage 234 moves progressively intoregister with ports 226 and 23u. As pressure builds up in the motors 38,164, and 166 the dies open and the jaws close; but because of thegradual nature of the pressure buildup the respective opening andclosing movements of the dies and jaws are relatively slow.

lt is a feature of this invention that the dies 24 and 26 and clampingjaws 90 and 92 are operated by a single control, viz., valve 208. Thisparticular arrangement assures that these two mechanisms never get outof synchronism.

l't will be readily appreciated that, while the machine here illustratedhas only one ejector tube Sti, it may be equipped with any desirednumber of tubes by increasing the capacity of the ejector cylinder 132or by providing two or more ejector cylinders which operate in unison.Also it is of course necessary to provide the dies 24 and 26 with asmany cavities as there are ejector tubes. Having thus described theinvention, i claim: l. Apparatus for capsulating liquids comprising avertically movable ejector tube, opposed relatively movable die membersarranged on opposite sides of said tube, the inner confronting sides ofsaid die members having interitting corrugations and also having alignedcavities into which the lowered tube extends, means for drawing stripsof sheet material downwardly in intermittent operations on oppositesides of said tube and between said die members, means for bringing thedie members into clamping engagement with said sheet material while saidtube is lowered whereby to form the sheet material around the tube andto crimp the surrounding portion of said material to provide a liquidtight pocket containing the tube, means for raising the tube out of thepocket thus formed and simultaneously discharging a measured amount ofliquid into said pocket, means for separating said die members after thetube is raised, and means for pulling said strips downwardly when saiddie members are separated to position the upper portions of said pocketabove the level of liquid therein between the lower portions of said diemembers whereby the pocket is closed and sealed by the next operation ofsaid die members.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means for graduallyaccelerating movement of the ejector tube as it is withdrawn from saidcavity whereby maXimum speed is attained at the end of the withdrawalmovement.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including means for holdingthe ejector tube still at least momentarily at the end of its travelaway from said die members.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means for bringingthe ejector tube to the end of its movement into the cavity before thedie members are brought entirely together and for holding the tube inthis position at least momentarily after the die members have closed.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means for bringingsaid die members together relatively qluiclldy and for separating saiddie members relatively s ow y.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for movingsaid die members comprises a fluid motor operatively connected to saiddie members, valve means for controlling flow of operating fluid to saidmotor, a rotatably driven cam coactive with said valve means to positionthe same for admitting fluid to the motor to separate said die members,and spring means coactive with 10 said valve to position the same foradmitting uid t the motor to bring said die members together.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means foradvancing said strips of sheet material comprises grippers at oppositesides of and movable into and out of engagement with said sheet materialand including means for bringing said grippers into engagement with saidsheet material as said die members are separated and for moving saidgrippers out of engagement with said sheet material as said die membersare brought together. l

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 including means for movingsaid grippers relatively slowly into engagement with said sheet materialand for moving said grippers out of engagement with said sheet materialrelatively rapidly.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein saidgripper-actuating means comprises a luid motor operatively connected tosaid grippers, a valve for controlling llow of operating fluid to saidmotor, rotatably driven cam means coactive with said valve to positionthe same for admitting fluid to said motor to move the grippers intoengagement with said sheet material, and spring means coactive with thevalve to position the same for directing fluid to the motor to move thegrippers out of engagement with said sheet material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HammerJan. 14, 1941

